Bicycle-bell



N0. amass. Patented Oct. l8, I898.

s. ALLEN, SR.

BICYCLE BELL.

(Application flied Oct. 5, 1897.1

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

SAMUEL ALLEN SR, OF DANSVILLE, NElV YORK.

BICYCLE-BELL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,388, dated October 18, 1898.

Application filed October 5,1897. Serial No. 654,114. (No model.)

June 22, 1897, to Charles H. Allen, is a good example of bells of this class. That patent shows a bell supported on a frame attached to one of the forks of the bicycle, and the hammer is operated by a train of gearing which is also connected with a roller that bears against the tire of the front wheel. The roller is carried on a swinging plate, and by the movement of this plate toward or from the bicycle-wheel the hammer-operating mechanism may be thrown into and out of operation at the will of the rider. By my invention I seek to simplify the different parts of a bell of this class to render them more reliable in operation and more durable.

In carrying out my invention I provide a clamp adapted to be readily secured to one of the front forks of a bicycle, and to one member of the clamp I hinge a frame which is provided with an arm carrying the bell or gong and with a sleeve-bearing for the shaft of a friction-roller which operates the hammer. The frame which carries the bell and the bearing for the shaft of the friction-roller are all formed in one piece. The bearing is practically dust-proof, as is also the hinge connection between the frame and the clamp. The movement of the frame is limited by stops, and a spring is employed for holding the roller away from the tire of the front wheel except when positively moved into engagement therewith. A roller of quite large diameter is employed and is arranged close to the gong, which is provided with a notch or recess allowing the periphery of the roller to extend into the hollow of the gong.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved bicycle-bell. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View. Fig. 3 is aview partly in longitudinal section and partly in elevation thereof. Fig. 4 is a detail View in section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2 of the clamp and the hinge connection between the clamp and the bell-supporting frame. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the gong or bell, showing the notch or recess for the friction-roller.

, The hell or gong A is secured to an arm B, projecting from the frame 0. The frame 0 is formedwith a sleeve-bearing D, arranged at right angles with the plane of the arm B, and through this hearing extends a shaft E, to which is attached a pivoted hammer F and a friction-roller G. The hammer F is of the form shown in Allens patent, of June 22, 1897, before referred to. In order to prevent rattling, I provide pads g on the shaft E, against which the hammer abuts when in operation. The bearing D is arranged quite close to the bell A, and the roller is of quite large diameter and extends into a notch a, formed in the edge of the bell. In this way the parts may be compactly arranged. An arm His form ed with or secured to the sleeve-bearing, is bent around the wheel G, and is provided with an eye to which is attached a cord I, that leads to the handle of a bicycle in convenient reach of the rider. The frame 0 is hinged to one member J of the clamp J J, which is formed with two cars j j, between which the tongue 0 on the frame 0 projects. A pin 0' hinges the tongue and ears together. The tongue 0 extends into the space between the ears j and close to the rear wall j thereof, while the ears jextend on opposite sides of the tongue 0 close to the shoulders c of the frame on opposite sides of the tongue 0. The formation of the shoulders c and the rear wallj of the space between the ears j is such as to limit the move ment of the frame relatively to the clampthat is to say, the frame is free to move to a certain extent about its pivot; but its movement is limited in both directions when the ears j strike against the shoulders or the tongue 0 strikes against the rear wall j. A spring K is secured to the bell-supporting arm 13 and to the clamp. This spring normally holds the parts in the position shown in Fig. 3, but permits the frame 0 and the parts carried thereby to move downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 3, to a limited extent.

The clamp J J consists of two members. The member J is formed with ears j, before referred to, and it has an arm j projecting from the bodyportion j The body portion and arm are curved on their inner side, forming a semi-elliptical recess adapted to fit a portion of the fork of a bicycle. The member J is also formed with an arm j which, with the body portion j, is curved on its inner side to form a semi-elliptical socket somewhat shallower than that in the other member, adapted to fit a portion of the fork. There is a space between the ends of the arms j and j forthe purpose of allowing the clamp to be placed laterally upon the fork when the member J is withdrawn from the member J and is free to be moved about its pivot. The members J J are formed with lugs m m, through which extends a screw M. One lug is screwthreaded, and the member J is'formed with a recess m to permit the screw to be readily inserted or withdrawn. In Fig. 4 the two members are shown as firmly connected together by the screw. By loosening the screw the members of the clamp may be separated from each other, thus enlarging the space between them to accommodate the size or shape of the fork. The inner end of the member J is made narrow at n, so that it may be turned about the screw M as a center without rubbing against the side of the fork, and the end'of the arm 7' is so arranged that it shall not strike against the edge of the fork when the clamp is being applied. By this arrangement the clamp may be readily applied to a bicycle-fork without entirely separating the members. The member J may be turned half-way around, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and may be placed on the fork at its lower or smaller end. This member may then be turned into position,the end of the arm 0 7 clearing the edge of the fork and the inner end of the body portion of the member J not rubbing against the fork. When thus turned, the clamp may be slid upwardly onto the larger portion of the fork and then the screw M may be tightened. This affords a very strong and easily-operated means for attaching the bell to the bicycle, and there is no danger of losing parts of the clamp, as it is never necessary to entirely separate them.

It will be understood that the clamp is socured to one of the front forks close to the periphery of the front wheel of the bicycle. Normally the friction-roller G is out of contact with the tire of the wheel 5 but by pulling the cord I the frame 0 may be turned on its pivot against the force of the spring K to a sufficient extent to cause the roller to bear against the wheel-tir'e. As long as this continues the hammer will be rapidly operated and the bell continuously sounded. By simply releasing tension on the cord I the frame will be swung back by the spring K, breaking the connection between the roller and the wheel and stopping the operation of the bell.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination of the clamp, the frame pivoted thereto, a bell carried by the frame and having a notch in its edge, a frictionroller mounted in bearings on the frame extending into the notch of the bell and adapted to rotate about an axis parallel with the pivot connecting the frame with the clamp, a centrifugal hammer connected with and actuated by the friction-roller, anda spring connecting the bell with the clamp, the arrangement being such that the friction-roller and bell maintain a fixed relation relatively to each other, and move together toward and from the wheel of the bicycle.

2. -The combination of the clamp, provided with the ears j, a frame having a tongue pivotally connected to the ears, an arm projecting from the frame, a bell secured thereto, a sleeve-bearing arranged on the frame at right angles to the plane of the bell-supportin g arm, a friction-roller, a shaft to which it is secured, extending through the sleeve-bearing, a clamp carried by said shaft, pads carried by the shaft for preventing rattling of the hammer, and an operating-arm secured to the frame.

3. The combination of the clamp, a frame formed with a bell-supporting arm and also with a sleevebearing and a tongue, which latter is pivotally connected with the clamp, a spring connecting the bell-supporting arm with the clamp, a friction roller, a shaft to which it is secured, and which extends through the sleeve bearing and the axis of which is parallel with the pivot connecting the clamp with the frame, a hammer carried by the shaft, and an operating-arm secured to the frame.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

SAMUEL ALLEN, SR.

\Vitnesses:

GEo. R. BROWN, A. H. KNAPP. 

